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THAMES. This portion of the district, where the rich ore-deposits yielded such marvellous returns in the past, is now receiving t ; c attention of English companies, and the low levels are about to be again opened up. The Queen of Beauty and the Deep Sinker shafts are being sunk in the southern end of the field, whilst in the Moanataiari and Kuranui-Caledonian Mines shafts are being sunk and workings extended to develop the low levels at the northern end. To the eastward the Adelaide and New Alburnia shafts are being sunk to test the reefs at greater depths, and the Moanataiari low tunnel is also being extended. In the other parts of the district low-level tunnels are being driven to prospect ground lately taken up, as well as in the older claims where reefs were formely worked, with very profitable results. During the past year 15,694 tons of quartz were crushed, yielding 10,829 oz. of gold; and 11,367 tons of tailings yielded 2,612 oz. of gold: representing an estimated value of =£34,254. The number of miners in this district was 1,527, of which 572 were employed in the gold-producing mines. Dividends. The Waiotahi Mine during the year paid £2,250 in dividends, and since the incorporation a total of £34,500 has been paid in dividends by the company. OHINBMUEI COUNTY. The returns from the mines that have given continuous yields are again most satisfactory. A vast amount of work has been carried on in the Waihi district by the Waihi, Union, Waihi-Silverton, Waihi Consolidated, and other mining companies in the development of their reefs. In the Waitekauri distric 4 , and also at Komata, Maratoto, Wharekeraupunga, Owharoa, and Karangahake, important reefs are being explored and additional milling machinery erected, which are evidence that the yields will be largely augmented in the near future. During the past year 64,463 tons of quartz and 2,522 tons of tailings yielded by amalgamation 91 oz. and by cyanide 148,535 oz. of bullion, making a total of 148,626 oz. of bullion, representing a value of £218,068, which is equal to about £1 9s. 4d. per ounce : as against 147,500 oz. of bullion, valued at £174,355 —equal to £1 3s. 7d. per ounce —for the previous year. During the year the number of miners in this district was 1,820, of which 1,018 were employed in the gold-producing mines, compared with 1,726 for last year. Waihi Gold-mining Company, During the four weeks ending the 24th July the Waihi Gold-mining Company crushed and treated 3,120 tons of ore, for bullion valued at £11,668, the average being £3 14s. 9|d. The present return shows enhanced value of the ore on that of last month, when 3,240 tons gave £11,823, the average being £3 12s. lid. per ton. That in its turn was also an advance on the month before, when £11,297 in value was extracted from 3,294 tons, the average being £3 Bs. 7d. per ton. The grand total won from the mine, corrected to date from the figures absolutely realised in London, now reaches £571,040, the following table being the return from this famous mine since 1890 :— Bullion won. Tons. £ s. d. In 1890 ... ... ... ... 21,112 13 6 In 1891 ... ... ... ... 23,935 5 11 In 1892 ... ... ... ... ... 18,236 44,888 2 4 In 1893 ... ... ... ... ... 19,805 61,900 10 11 In 1894 ... ... ... ... ... 24,864 82,827 2 2 In 1895 ... ... ... ... ... 33,670 120,334 2 2 In 1896 ... ... ... ... ... 34,400 137,321 8 2 Period ending 6th February, 1897 ... ... 4,140 14,010 14 1 Four weeks ending 6th March, 1897 ... .. 3,120 10,585 7 4 3rd April, 1897 ... ... 3,150 10,033 2 0 Ist May, 1897 ... ... 3,060 9,303 16 5 29th May, 1897 ... ... 3,294 11,297 0 0 26th June, 1897 ... ... 3,240 11,823 0 0 24th July, 1897 ... ... 3,120 11,668 0 0 21st August, 1897 ... ... 3,120 11,757 110 £582,797 6 10

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